Starting out in any motor sport can be a daunting prospect- but this should not deter you from having a go at one of the easiest to access motor sports there is.

Car trials is suitable for any 2 wheel drive car and the vast majority of events are on fairly smooth and non damaging terrain. The same goes for 4x4 trials with appropriate terrain.

My experience of starting in car trials came after 32 years of competition in autograss racing – so I was going from a racing environment to one which commanded precision and control. I would almost classify car trials as “chess on grass”. “Its just driving up a hill on grass” - these are some of the most popular words from bystanders who have never tried to take part – in essence it does look very easy – I can assure you it is not that easy but is great fun and can be addictive.

I bought a little Peugeot 106 to compete in my first car trial and the preparation consisted of putting on some “better” tyres and loading a spare wheel, jack and tyre pressure gauge into the car.

Before the event you will need to join the club and send in your entry form and entry fee – usually around £20 per driver.

On arrival at an event you simply park up with the other competitors, unload your spares, sign on, receive an entry list – clarifying your car number and await the scrutineer to give your car the once over. This is not an MOT test – so a quick look at the following key items:

Brakes – pedal has pressure !

Battery – secure and yellow marking on the earth connection;

No loose components inside the car;

Spare wheel appropriately fitted.

Once this is done somebody will probably thrust an “event” tyre pressure gauge in your hand so you can adjust the driven wheel tyre pressures to the event set pressures. Usually between 12 & 20 psi dependant on configuration of your car and class you are entered in.

Now you are ready to start your first car trial. There will be a drivers briefing, which generally lets you know how many hills are in operation, where you will start and finish and ensure that running order is maintained.

So what do you do now?

When you get to the hill it is very important to walk the hill and follow the markers from the start through 12 down to 1. The goal of course being to get out the end of the section and score 0. When you walk the section, it is important to identify hazards, slippery bits, tight bits, bumpy bits and an appropriate line to avoid you running out of room or driving into a marker post.

Speed is not a feature that you will need: momentum is more important to your performance. When it is your turn, pull up to the start post and await the marshals “thumbs up” . Now is time to embark on the journey up the section. Smooth throttle control and steering are paramount and ensuring you allow enough “sweep” to get around the corners in the sections.

At some stage you will feel wheel spin: now is the time to decide if you can back off and regain traction or need to start to “burn” to spin yourself through the slippery part. This is where the trials can be won and lost and a well placed lay off or burn, will gain you valuable points.

If you are getting particularly close to a marker, then the decision has to be whether to persevere and hope you do not bump it or to stop and take the points.

Getting one wheel centre past the line between the “posts” will score you the next post score, whereas doing all this work and then drifting into the post you are trying to pass will score what is on the post that you have struck ! Discretion or valour?

Many thanks to the MSA for the use of the above image.

Once you get these basics you will understand better when to burn and when to lay off – but some techniques work for some people – but not always !

Generally you will do 2-3 laps of the 6-8 sections before lunch and then a repeat in the afternoon. The running order in the afternoon is generally reversed to try and even up any advantage. However, the sections will probably be gently altered during each lap……..the golden rule

WALK THE SECTION and DON’T FOLLOW THE TRACKS

At the end of the day the officials will do the adding up for the scoring. You will have handed in a card after each round where the hard working marshals record your section score. The results are calculated both on class performance and on an index of performance, which is a fairly complicated calculation to standardise the performance of each car versus its class and allow comparison to other classes.

So in essence- turn up, let your tyres down, look at the sections, drive smoothly, override some instincts to hit the gas, miss the posts, go the right way and bingo, you will be a trials competitor.

The choice of car is open ended – class 1 cars are post 1998 cars that are road legal – inc tax and MOT.

A good range of cars can work – Ka, Nissan,Saxo,Corsa,Lupo, Alfa- in fact any small hatch works well. You can be more adventurous and use a MR2, if RWD is more your thing.

In class 2 – it is FWD cars, , that are not road legal, so you do not need to have Road Tax, MOT or car insurance (but not lightweight stripped out cars) ballast maybe added to help grip- Here Citroen's, Peugeots, Fords and Vauxhall's are dominant.

Class 3 is for RWD cars- again no need for them to be road legal – ballast allowed. Cars of choice are Hillman Imps, Dutton's, MX5, MR2.

Tyres: any road going non M&S tyre is allowed (but check the MSA Competitors Yearbook) and they can be very cheaply sourced (£60 a pair is plenty for 2 years trialling).

Other than that, I would suggest a sump guard and some seat covers for the wet days!

Car trials is very enjoyable, can be frustrating but all in all offers fantastic value for money and will surprise you how effective a 2wd car with no trickery can perform on slippery, steep hills.

I expect there are many of you who have been to a hill climb and wanted to enter, but felt that you did not have a suitable car or that the total costs were prohibitive. Well for the Woolbridge Motor Club speed hill climbs the club has added one additional class to its National B events, aimed at those of you who would like to enter with your road going car to see what it’s all about.

Full details of the class regulations are given at the end of this article, but in very simple terms all you need are the following:

(b) A timing strut added on arrival at the event to the front of the car. This can be achieved easily without any damage to the car;

(c) Ignition switch label added by the ignition switch to show the direction to turn the key to “off”.

(d) Woolbridge Motor Club membership, which is £15 per year (which includes a monthly club magazine) and further information can be found on the membership page.

(e) MSA Speed Licence which allows you to compete in speed hill climbs. This can be obtained by telephoning the MSA at Motor Sports House on 01753-765000 and asking for a competitor’s licence application form to be sent to you or downloaded form their website. A non-race National B licence is £43 per year. This will, in addition, give you a copy of the MSA Competitors Year book, which includes all regulations for all types of events.

(f) A helmet to the correct specification. These can be obtained from many sources from about £139 upwards.

(g) A pair of overalls to the correct specification. These can be obtained from many sources from about £170 upwards.

(h) A pair of gloves overalls to the correct specification. These can be obtained from many sources from about £25 upwards.

I would suggest that when you are purchasing your helmet and overalls, that you take with you the MSA year book and check the specification before you make your purchase.

With just an outlay of about £390 and your standard road going car you will have yourself kited out ready for a day’s hill climbing, only the licenses and club membership will need to be renewed annually.

So if you are thinking about having ago or want any further advice you can contact me as defined below. Remember that with Christmas coming you might want to put a helmet and overalls on your wish list!

Tony

Tel: 01305 520829 Email: wmc@woolbridge.co.uk or use the contact form .

1. Cars must be standard show room cars as offered and sold by the original manufacturer, and where only additional items, defined below, which can be added or removed, are allowed.

2. Competition licences up to Nat B only are permitted; Nat A and International licences are prohibited. Competitors can either be a member of Woolbridge Motor Club or of an invited club to the event.

3. The organisers reserve the right to re-classify or exclude any car does not align to the “SPIRIT OF THE CLASS”, or that does not conform in any way whatsoever. These Regulations are designed “to limit the cost of Motor sport,” for your enjoyment and

REMEMBER: IF IT DOESN'T SAY YOU CAN.......THEN YOU CAN'T!

4. Cars eligible are as defined in section 'S' of the current MSA Yearbook are:

- Road-Going Series Saloons and Sports Cars Production Cars produced in quantities of not less than 1000 per annum.

- Road-Going Specialist Production Cars with a minimum annual production of 20 chassis Cars which do not qualify as Road-Going Series Production

- Cars must compete in an event in a road legal condition.

5. Items mandatory within sections “J” and “K” of the current MSA Yearbook for road going classes MUST be fitted. Fire proofing may be required in addition to original manufactured bulkheads.

6. The following items which must be removed from the car are as follows:

7. The original manufacturer’s chassis or monocoque for the car MUST remain unaltered in all dimensions and material.

8. Body panels, windows (including their operating mechanisms) and screens, internal or external to the car, must remain as per the original material and shape, in the car. No changes or alterations may be made whatsoever.

9. All carpets, trim, soundproofing and seats (including their internals) MUST be retained.

10. Modification to the engine including its air filter, drive train and control systems is expressly prohibited, which includes their mounting and position within the car.

11. Suspension systems and operation, MUST remain and operate as originally fitted.

12. Brakes and the braking systems must remain as original equipment (callipers and discs) and have a fully operational handbrake.

13. Tyre sizes shall be as catalogue for that make and model of car, and conform to those allowed on the public highway under the Road Traffic Act ONLY, and which at all times during the event must have a tread depth that complies with use on the public highway in a legal condition.

14. Wheels may be changed to a different type.

15. Wheel arch extensions are prohibited unless a showroom option.

16. The following items ONLY may be changed, but MUST remain fully compliant with the Road Traffic Act:

a. Steering wheel;

b. Drivers seat;

c. Drivers seat belt.

17. The following MUST BE CURRENT AND PRODUCED at the event scrutineering:

a. Current road tax;

b. Current MOT as applicable;

c. Current insurance.

18. Trade plates are expressly prohibited.

19. In all cases the onus of proof shall remain with the competitor and be available at scrutineering for the event.

20. Cars entered in this class WILL NOT SCORE POINTS in any championship run at this event.

21. The class WILL NOT be sub-divided in the event of a large class of entries.

Want to find out more about Speed Starters Class?

If you need anymore information about Speed Hill Climbs then please contact: